Our "Baby Nate"

Today our youngest turned....35!!! This is nearly incomprehensible to me, until I consider how very, very much he has accomplished in his life! He is a quick study; a go-getter; an interesting and interested man; handsome & strong; ambitious and utterly capable; generous and loving. To be his mom is a joy. (I can say many, many fabulous things about our oldest too - but today is not his birthday.) I know that his beautiful little family has showered him with love today. And those of us farther away have enthusiastically thrown our love into the universe to reach him too. We sure love you Nate! Happy Birthday!

Beautiful, but Too-Soon Spring!

Each day brings new blossoms. They are so pretty and we love to see them! However, we worry about what is ahead for them; light frost or heavy freeze? Last year, all of our fruit trees bloomed, and the blossoms and new fruit were destroyed by freezes. How we would love to have fruit this year! The apricot is in full glory. The wild plum and cherries are thinking hard about opening up. Even the Japanese cherry trees (sakura) are ready to flower. Yesterday I noticed a peony sending up its spring debut leaves. There's not much one can do about it, except to enjoy the fleeting pleasure of each new splash of color! I'm happy to say that snow peas and sweet peas are in the ground! There are still some cool mornings - when a pup like Fred needs a sweater. And notice too, please, that Sophie is sporting a new sweater! By now, she has arrived at Piper's house, after getting a few repairs....and her new sweater. I am sure she missed you while she was here with us, Piper, and is happy to be home. :) Oh, and happy Girl's Day! It is Hina Matsuri in Japan! WE LOVE OUR GIRLS!!

Three FULL days of Disney-ness!!!!!

"Magic Kingdom" felt truly magical! EPCOT was very EXCITING! And we nearly closed down the parks every single day....three days in a row! Abby saw every princess and Ben bonded with "GooGoo" (Goofy) and "YoHo" (Jake, the Pirate). What a wonderful experience this was!

"This land was made for you and me..... ."

Thank you, Pete Seeger, for sharing your energy, your talent, your passion. This world is a better place because you were in it.

A Happy New Year in the Afterglow of Christmas

The glorious morning light shines on the Cottonwood trees outside our kitchen window; wintry and cold out there! But not nearly as cold as it is where some of our family and friends live! (Michigan and Boston! Brrrrrr!) I step into the dining room, coffee cup in hand, to look at the birds at the feeder, and I think, I am not quite ready to let go of Christmas. It was so sweet. Hence, one last picture of Christmas stockings lined up on the mantle, before I carefully tuck them away for next Christmas. Of course, it would not feel like a new year without a resolution. This year….I will do my best to listen more and try to understand the perspectives of others. Remembering all the while, that it is the little things that mean the most. Happy New Year!